SUFFOLK COUNTY CORRECTION OFFICER AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR

Suffolk County Correction Officer Robert Call was awarded the Medal of
Honor during the 6th annual Correction Officer of the Year awards May 23,
and fellow Officer William Peterson was awarded a Meritorious Award.

The officers joined Sheriff Andrea Cabral, Governor Mitt Romney,
Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and Secretary of Public Safety Edward A. Flynn
at the awards ceremony in the Great Hall of the State House.

“I would like to congratulate Officer Call and Officer Peterson.
They acted with courage and heroism in difficult situations,” Sheriff
Cabral said. “This is a great way to honor an underappreciated
profession. Every day, the correction officers in our department make
a true commitment to public safety. They not only ensure the safety
of offenders in our custody, but they protect our communities overall.”

Officer Robert Call was awarded the Medal of Honor for his life-saving
efforts when last summer he risked his own life to save the life of
a suicidal woman attempting to leap off the Washington Street Bridge
onto the Mass Turrnpike in Boston. Officer Call was off-duty at the
time. He is the first Suffolk County Officer to receive this award.

Officer Call has been a correction officer with the Suffolk County
Sheriff’s Department for 12 years.

Officer William Peterson was awarded the Meritorious Award for his
quick action in saving the life of a baby who had stopped breathing.
While Officer Peterson was in a department store in Concord, NH, last
December, he noticed an 18-month-old infant turning blue and unresponsive.
Officer Peterson performed CPR on the baby until EMTs arrived at the
scene. His action saved the baby’s life.

Officer Peterson has been a correction officer with the Department
for nearly two years.

The two joined other correction officers from around the state who
also received awards for acts of heroism and bravery. Award winners
were determined by an individual’s response to an incident that
involved personal risk or harm to other individuals where the officer
displayed ability and professionalism during difficult circumstances.

The Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard posted the colors while
Bag Piper Sgt. Chris Fay performed at the ceremonies.